California State University, Fullerton

John Bonner was named head coach of the Titans Women's Basketball program on May. 6, 2025.

Bonner, the 12th head coach in the Titans women's basketball history, came to Cal State Fullerton after spending nine seasons at the helm of Cal State Dominguez Hills.

During the 2024-25 season, Bonner led the Toros to their sixth CCAA Championship with a 36-2 overall record and coached the Toros all the way to the NCAA Division II Championship game where they became the National Runner Up.  It was the first time the Toros made the NCAA Championship Game in program history. 

Over his tenure in charge of the Toros, Bonner has compiled a 127-82 record.  He was named the CCAA Coach of the Year twice (2022-23, 2024-25) and led the Toros to being ranked as high as the No. 2 team in the country.  He led the Toros to the most wins in program history twice, besting his previous record of 31-3 in 2022-23 with a 36-2 record during the 2024-25 season.

Bonner's accomplishments include a total of five postseason appearances at the CCAA Tournament, including two trips to the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Tournament (2022-23, 2024-25).

Bonner has won four regular season or conference tournament championships while in charge of the Toros.  He led the Toros to their first and second ever NCAA West Regional Championship title in 2023 and 2025, two trips to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight, and during the 2024-25 season, their first final four and NCAA Division II Championship game.

Throughout his leadership, his student-athletes have won numerous conference and national honors.  They include 25 All-Conference Team Honors, 1 CCAA Newcomer of the Year (Ariana Harper), Two CCAA Freshman of the Year Honors (Nala Williams/2023, Cristina Jones/2025), Two CCAA Defensive Player of the Years (Dawnyel Lair/2023, Nala Williams/2025), and Two CCAA Player of the Year Honors (Dawnyel Lair/2023, Nala Williams/2025).  After the 2024-25 season, Nala Williams was named the 2025 WBCA NCAA Division II National Player of the Year—the first in CSUDH history—and earned WBCA First Team All-American honors. She also was named the D2 CCA West Region Player of the Year and to the All-West Region First Team. Williams was named to the All-West Region Second team after the 2023-24 season.  After the 2022-23 season, Dawnyel Lair was named a 3rd-team All-D2CCA All-American as well as being selected to the WBCA All-American First Team and D2CCA All-Region First Team.

Prior to coaching at Cal State Dominguez Hills, Bonner was an assistant on the women's basketball staff at Fresno Pacific for six seasons from 2010-16. During his time with the Sunbirds he was promoted to be the program's first full-time assistant in 2014, before taking over the program as the interim head coach in April 2016. As the lead assistant coach, Bonner played an integral role in coaching, recruiting, scouting and all other facets of the women's basketball program. During his time at FPU, he helped the Sunbirds to a 12-8 conference record in the 2013-14 season, the program's first winning record since 2002. He's also coached two All-Americans during while at Fresno Pacific.

Prior to joining the FPU staff, Bonner served as a student assistant for the Fresno State women's basketball team. John assisted with skill development and other aspects of the program, while being a part of multiple NCAA Tournament teams.

A native of Bakersfield, Calif., Bonner holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in counseling - marriage & family therapy, both from Fresno State.

John Bonner Introductory Press Conference Gallery (May 6th, 2025)

NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES
2023 Women’s NCAA Division II West Regional Champions, Elite Eight
2025 Women’s NCAA Division II West Regional Champions, Elite Eight, Final Four, National Champion Runner-Up

CHAMPIONSHIPS
2023 Women's CCAA Regular Season Champions
2025 Women's CCAA Regular Season Champions
2025 Women's CCAA Tournament Champions

HONOR ROLL
2023 Women’s CCAA Conference Coach of the Year 
2025 Women’s CCAA Conference Coach of the Year 

JOHN BONNER YEAR BY-YEAR COACHING CAREER

Year	School	Position	Overall	Pct.	Conference	Finish	Postseason
2016-17	Cal St. Dominguez Hills	Women's HC	7-20	.259	4-16	11th
2017-18	Cal St. Dominguez Hills	Women's HC	13-15	.464	11-11	7th	CCAA , Q-Final
2018-19	Cal St. Dominguez Hills	Women's HC	14-15	.483	10-12	5th	CCAA, Q-Final
2019-20	Cal St. Dominguez Hills	Women's HC	13-15	.464	8-8	9th
2020-21*	Cal St. Dominguez Hills	Women's HC	0-0	.000	0-0	N/A
2021-22	Cal St. Dominguez Hills	Women's HC	13-12	.520	11-8	4th	CCAA, Q-Final
2022-23	Cal St. Dominguez Hills	Women's HC	31-3	.912	21-1	1st	CCAA Final, NCAA Division II West Regional Champs, Elite 8
2023-24	Cal St. Dominguez Hills	Women's HC	14-14	.500	11-11	7th
2024-25	Cal St. Dominguez Hills	Women's HC	36-2	.947	21-1	1st	CCAA Conference & Tournament Champs, NCAA Division II West Regional Champs, Elite 8, Final 4, National Runner-Up
2025-26	Cal St. Fullerton	Women's HC
Totals	9 Years		141-97	.593	97-68	.588
HC	9 Years		141-97	.593	97-68	.588
CSF	1 Year		0-0	.000	0-0	.00

*2021 Season canceled due to Covid-19 Pandemic